National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

Bilong Papua New Guinea marks the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence, displaying part of the largest collection of Papua New Guinea urban art outside the country, held by the National Gallery.

Join us for a performance by the PNG Peroveta Singers of Canberra to celebrate this anniversary and the opening of the exhibition Bilong Papua New Guinea.

The PNG Peroveta Singers of Canberra will inaugurate the exhibition with Peroveta and traditional song and dance. Formed in 1999 by ACT diaspora community members, they specialize in Peroveta songs, prophet songs introduced by Polynesian missionaries in the late 1880s, as well as traditional Papua New Guinean folk songs and dances.

50 years of Independence Community Day is a collaboration with the National Archives of Australia for the Papua New Guinean community of the ACT and surrounding NSW and is open to all visitors.

Visit the National Archives of Australia from 9:30am to 12pm for curatorial talks, a performance, archival demonstrations and morning tea.

Visit the National Library of Australia to view the exhibition 1975: Living in the Seventies, which showcases Papua New Guinea's path to independence.

https://nga.gov.au/events/50-years-of-independence-community-day/